Media coverage
PNN · 2017-04-12
PalThink for Strategic Studies organized a conference in Gaza titled "Social Issues from the Perspective of Young Researchers," attended by intellectuals, researchers, and university students, as part of its effort to develop scientific research skills and localize knowledge production in Palestine through a project funded by the European Endowment for Democracy (EED). The conference discussed five research papers prepared by young researchers on Eastern Mediterranean gas and the Palestinian cause, women’s political participation, the role of civil society organizations, the situation of persons with disabilities, and the repercussions of canceling local elections, while emphasizing the importance of empowering youth and listening to their views.
PalThink for Strategic Studies organized a conference in Gaza titled "Social Issues from the Perspective of Young Researchers," attended by intellectuals, researchers, and university students, as part of its effort to develop scientific research skills and localize knowledge production in Palestine…
Gaza / PNN – PalThink for Strategic Studies organized a conference titled “Societal Issues from the Perspective of Young Researchers” in the hall of the Commodore Hotel in Gaza, attended by dozens of intellectuals, researchers, and university students.
The conference was opened by Mr. Omar Shaban, Director of PalThink for Strategic Studies, who explained that this conference comes within the framework of the institution’s working philosophy, which seeks to develop scientific research skills on issues of Palestinian society and to localize knowledge production in Palestine. He added that the papers presented at this conference are the outcome of a youth effort that came after training and qualifying the participants within the project “Enhancing Democracy and Awareness Principles among Youth,” funded by the European Endowment for Democracy (EED). Shaban stressed here the need to strengthen the role of young people in expressing their positions on all the issues facing society, and that decision-makers should listen to young people and take their views into consideration, rather than the reverse as is always customary.
For his part, political researcher Mr. Talal Abu Rukba, who played a major role in bringing the research papers out in proper form, affirmed that this conference came to give Palestinian youth the opportunity to present their opinions and positions on the various issues facing Palestinian society, whether economic, social, or political. He stressed that the time has come to move Palestinian youth from the stage of receiving information to that of producing knowledge, especially in light of the knowledge poverty suffered by Arab society, along with declining support and funding for research and the weakness of the scientific research budget in Palestine. He called on the rest of the Palestinian institutions to follow PalThink’s example in giving young researchers the opportunity to present themselves and put forward their vision and ideas in Palestinian society.
The conference discussed five highly important working papers, namely:
The first paper addressed “The Impact of Eastern Mediterranean Gas Reserves on the Palestinian Cause,” prepared by researcher Sabreen Al-Qaisi, a graduate in Political Science from Al-Azhar University.
The second paper, by researcher Mohammed Al-Farra, a Civil Engineering graduate, addressed “Women’s Political Participation: Reality and Challenges.”
The third paper addressed “The Role of Civil Society Organizations in Achieving Community Development,” by researcher Khaled Al-Dawasa, a graduate of Social Work.
The fourth paper, by researcher Taghreed Najm, addressed “The Situation of Persons with Disabilities in Palestine: Prospects and Challenges.”
The fifth paper, by researcher Ghassan Al-Zaanin, addressed “The Repercussions of Cancelling Local Elections in Palestine.” The papers were commented on by Dr. Abeer Thabet, Professor of Political Science at Al-Azhar University, and Dr. Waseem Al-Habil, Professor of Scientific Research at the Islamic University, both of whom in turn trained the youth to produce the research papers throughout the project period.
The conference was distinguished by active participation from the attendees, who praised the research papers and stressed the need to strengthen the idea put forward by PalThink, which is considered unique and qualitative, while calling for strengthening the base of young researchers and following up with them in the future, so that we can confront the epistemic distortion presented to us in light of cultural openness and cultural globalization, so that we may protect the Palestinian narrative from distortion. This can only be achieved through caring for young researchers and giving them the opportunity and the real role to do so.
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